There'll be no victor in a war on Korean peninsula, China warns

Commenting on the recent escalation of war of words between U.S. and North Korea, Beijing warned against any potential military conflict on the Korean Peninsula and urged the two countries to realize that military means are never a viable way out.

Even though China has supported a series of tough United Nations resolutions targeting North Korea's economy, many experts are skeptical that Chinese officials and companies are fully complying with the sanctions.

The war of words between the two countries escalated as US President Donald Trump responded to North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong's UN General Assembly speech on Saturday, where North Korean diplomat said that Trump would face the negative consequences of his remarks about North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Un.

The unverified Yonhap report said the United States appeared to have disclosed the flight route of the bombers intentionally because North Korea seemed to be unaware.

"It would be an incredibly provocative thing for them to conduct a nuclear test in the Pacific as they have suggested, and I think the North Korean people would have to realise how serious that would be, not only for the United States but for the worldwide community", Dunford said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson answers a question from the media on North Korea, while meeting with the Holy See Secretary for Relations with States Paul Gallagher, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, at the State Department in Washington.

The U.S. military has stepped up its air force cooperation with South Korea and Japan in the aftermath of a series of missile tests and a nuclear test by North Korea this summer.

North Korea conducted its sixth and apparently most powerful nuclear test so far on September 3.

On Tuesday, the administration designated eight North Korean banks, including Agricultural Development Bank, Cheil Credit Bank and International Industrial Bank.

The Trump administration on Tuesday announced new sanctions against North Korean banks.

The latest measure of economic warfare comes just days after President Trump signed an executive order giving Mnuchin greater power to slap a range of sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear efforts.

"A war on the Korean Peninsula will have no victor, which will also be a tragedy for regional countries", Lu told reporters at a daily briefing.